Smart Shopping for Cranberry Supplements

The cranberry is an evergreen shrub, widely cultivated in the acidic soils of New England, USA, which produces bright red berries. Cranberries are most known as a culinary product; the main constituent of cranberry sauce decorating Thanksgiving dinner tables.

This nutrient-dense berry is packed with potent antioxidants, including vitamin C, flavonoids, tannins, particularly proanthocyanides, whose role is to prevent E coli from adhering to the epithelial cells lining the bladder wall, thus aiding in the treatment of urinary infections.

Historically known to treat a variety of problems, such as wounds, urinary disorders, diarrhea, diabetes and stomach ailments, the potent cranberries are being researched and used to fight urinary tract infections, or UTIs, common in women. Other research studies have touted cranberry use for the prevention of kidney stones formed from calcium oxalate while decreasing the "bad cholesterol" or LDL, thus decreasing the development of both atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.

Most urinary tract infections, UTIs, are bladder infections, which are not serious if treated right away, before they can spread to the kidneys. Women tend to have more bladder infections than men, due to the short length of their urethra, germs can easily reach the bladder. These germs live in the large intestine and are found in our stool. If they get inside the urethra, then travel easily to the bladder and kidneys, an infection occurs. The chance for infections rises if there is any problem that blocks the flow of urine from the bladder. You may have an infection if some of these symptoms occur: pain or burning when you urinate, nausea, vomiting, chills, cloudy or bad smelling urine, tender belly or frequent urination. Consult with your physician, as he will ask for a sample of your urine.

What to Look for

Cranberry is available as capsules and tablets of concentrated extract, concentrated liquids, syrups, tinctures, juices and unsweetened, unprocessed juices. Capsules are administered by mouth, two to three times a day, 300-500 mg; 2 glasses of juice a day and 3 to 5 ml three times a day for tincture. For diabetics, sugar-free cranberry supplements and juices are available.

Your physician may combine these supplements with other daily recommendations, including avoiding the urge to hold urine and instead emptying the bladder whenever needed, while drinking plenty of water and other fluids daily, which flushes bacteria from the urinary tract.

Common Pitfalls

Although we are always looking for the magic pill to cure all ailments, most of the research on cranberries has been conducted in small groups, using commercial cranberry beverages, not dried cranberry powder, without conclusive results that it can cure UTIs.

Drinking excessive amounts of juice could cause gastrointestinal upset, such as irritation or diarrhea. Tinctures contain up to 45% alcohol so consumers with a history of alcohol abuse or liver disease should be cautioned.

Cranberries may interact negatively with anticoagulant medication, such as warfarin (Coumadin); talk to your doctor before using cranberry to prevent UTI.